Friday, 18 September 2015

The
current scenario of poverty, hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy and many related
issues implies the critical NGO role in
India. As is true in global scenario that NGOs are playing a vital role in
countering various issues related to social, environmental, health and rights,
so is true in case of India too. The Government of India has initiated many
different schemes and programmes in order to bring about a change in the
socio-economic, health, education and many such factors. One among them is the Mid-Day
Meal Scheme. This Scheme is aimed to providing cooked mid-day meal to children
of government schools and government-aided schools. This Scheme works as a
supporting pillar for Government initiated education schemes to attain 100%
literacy.

The
Mid-Day Meal Scheme is a nationwide programme and approximately 10.45 crore
children in 11.58 lakh schools benefits from this Scheme according to 2013-14
estimate. Considering the implementation of mid-day meal
in Karnataka, Akshaya Patra
in Bangalore has been one of the key implementers in the state. Akshaya Patra began providing cooked
mid-day meal at five schools in the city in June 2000. The response from the
beneficiary schools and the enquiries from the neighbouring schools clearly
indicated that need for mid-day meal at schools.

The
Government of India also witnessed the need of NGO participation in
implementation of such a huge programme. Thus, the role of NGO in India to
implement the Mid-Day Meal Scheme turned out to be vital because NGOs can make
available the benefits of this Scheme at the grass root level of the society,
and that’s where the actual transformation begins. Since 2000, Akshaya
Patra in Bangalore has been serving mid-day meal to
government school children. Apart from Bangalore, Akshaya Patra covers four locations
to provide mid-day meal in Karnataka namely Mysuru, Hubballi, Ballari and
Mangaluru. Since its inception, Akshaya Patra has been very strategic in its
expansion plans so as to ensure sustainability of the programme. It fathomed
the significance of its work as an implementer of a nationwide programme and
thus furthering its service, Akshaya Patra expanded its operations in nine
other states during 15 years. Currently, the impact of this NGO role in Indiais felt among more than 1.4 million
children residing across 24 locations.

Studies conducted by
Akshaya Patra in association with third party assessors to assess the impact of
mid-day meal in Karnataka and the other beneficiary states have shown results
indicating improved attendance and concentration among children, reduction in
classroom hunger, increase in enrolment and retention thereby lowering drop-out
rates. This further indicate the importance of sustainability of the feeding
programme along with indicating that we need to expand the programme to benefit
more children. The NGO
role in India thus becomes even more challenging and at the same time accomplishing
too. But social change requires social participation too and hence Akshaya Patra provides ample
volunteering opportunities. Get involve with the organisation to see how you
can participate in providing mid-day meal. Your support towards even a single
child is the beginning for a wave of change.